Reuters reported that the spike in oil prices has driven up both market expectations of future inflation and long-term bond yields. Yields on 10-year Treasuries are at the highest since early 2014 at 2.977 percent and again threatening the hugely important 3 percent bulwark. The last time yields neared this number in 2013 it rocked risk appetite and sent stocks sliding.

In Malaysia, Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice president of research Vincent Lau told theedgemarkets.com: “If you look at the regional market, you can see that the market is afraid of all the uncertainties that are coming up. The rise in the US 10-year note (yields) and how that will affect the equity market, the selldown in the US tech-related counters as well as the occasional tweet by US President (Donald) Trump.”